Save Me From Myself (Klance) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 8: Hiding

Chapter 8: Hiding

August 8th, 2010

My father's funeral

We didn't have a body to bury. The building he died in burned to the ground. All we could get was some ash to put in an urn. My mother sobbed throughout the service, handing me piece after piece of crumpled up tissues. All my siblings were there with their kids. I wished the children didn't have to see this, they were far too young. And they had no idea their grandpa's remains were not in that vase.

We didn't know who killed him. No one was there when it happened, not even Shiro who was speaking on behalf of my mother.

"He was a great man... He called me his apprentice once or twice and it made me feel... Important. Even if I was still just a rookie officer, he took me under his wing and taught me everything I know." He said. I felt jealousy boiling in my blood; I wished my dad had done the same for me.

After Shiro stopped talking, my sister nudged me. Everyone wanted me to say something, but I had no idea what to start with... I cleared my throat and went up to the microphone on the podium.

"Tomorrow I will be starting my police training... I may never be as good as my father... But I wanna make him proud for once..." Was all I could say before I stepped down.

No words could describe how I felt. And I didn't want them to know anyway. From that point on, my feelings and thoughts would be locked away.

August 4th, 2017

Going into hiding

I was feeling particularly antsy in this hotel room. I successfully inhaled almost four cigarettes and Keith was dying of asphyxiation.

"Lance, stop smoking already. It smells awful in here and we'll get an upcharge on the bill if the hotel managers get a whiff. This is a non-smoking room." He was sewing himself up. I would have done it, but my anxiety causes me to be queasy around blood.

"Sorry, I can't help it..." I tossed the cigarette into the sink, washing it down.

"Fucking hell, you're gonna clog the sink if you do that..."

"They're small enough to fit..." I shrugged, "Better than burning the place down by putting it in the garbage."

"I guess, but still..."

"I'll flush them down the toilet next time."

"No, no, you're not gonna be smoking again!" Keith growled as he finished up his stitches, wrapping bandages around it, "Take a drink or something. There's complimentary Jack Daniels in the fridge..."

I didn't hesitate to throw open the fridge door and started chugging down the bottle of Jack.

"Whoa, slow down. Lemme have a sip." I handed him the bottle and he took a long swig.

"It's been a stressful night..." I set the alcohol down on the nightstand, "The last time I was in a hotel room with you, you ran away." I forced a laugh.

Keith frowned, "I'm sorry..." He looked away, "Is there any ice in the fridge by any chance?"

"Lemme check..." I looked inside, "Nope. Sorry. Want me to get you some?"

"It would be much appreciated."

"Okay." I grabbed the ice bucket and left. Before I went to the ice machine, I stopped outside to take yet another hit of tobacco. I was traumatized still to this day. I very rarely even went in hotels. And now, here I was staying in a hotel with the exact same person that traumatized me in the first place. I prayed to god that Keith wouldn't run away this time. I was desperate for him to stay.